Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Voices from the Past: 1932 Soft Toys - Family of Little Pigs

This superb and rare craft pattern for a whole family of little pig soft dolls and wardrobe is from 1932. Aren't the details wonderful? Each pig is dressed and the face details are embroidered. And the instructions describe how to make the basket of fruit too. :)

This is a complete pattern, and yet the original sewist chose to re-write the instructions. I am guessing that the pattern was re-written so that it could be shared. I love the little illustration of embroidering the nose. :)

The fact that she reproduced the pattern pieces by tracing lends credence to my theory that she intended to share the pattern (a common practice in the thrift-driven Great Depression).

The pattern also include an hand-traced pattern for a soft rabbit toy.

4 comments:

Oh, how precious! I once bought a pattern for a dress that was actually a traced copy of an original pattern from the 1940's. It took a bit of sleuthing, but I finally located the original pattern illustration, based upon the pattern shapes, and the instructions which were written on the back of the pattern pieces. It was so neat to see that little bit of thrift, and I am glad that that lady took the time to trace the pattern, otherwise I never would have had it in my collection!

I find entire patterns hand traced and copied, of aprons, blouses, and even dresses, usually from the 1930s and the 1940s, because thriftiness was required to get by in those days. I am so excited to learn that you sewed a dress with such a copy, Brigid! That is fantastic.

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The images in this blog are provided for educational purposes. These images are reproduced from my personal collection of vintage patterns, books, booklets and magazines on sewing and fashion. They are in the public domain with expired copyrights. I do not profit from these images. Images also include photographs sent to me by my customers and reprinted with their permission. The text and images are copyrighted by Midvale Cottage with all rights reserved, and may not be sold.